Buchholz to pitch Friday; Victorino, Middlebrooks on schedule

Tuesday

BOSTON -- Clay Buchholz will return to the Red Sox rotation on Friday in the series opener against the Yankees, manager John Farrell said Tuesday.

BOSTON -- Clay Buchholz will return to the Red Sox rotation on Friday in the series opener against the Yankees, manager John Farrell said Tuesday.

Buchholz missed his scheduled start Monday against the Phillies with irritation in the AC joint in his right shoulder.

Buchholz first felt the discomfort in his shoulder after sleeping on it wrong last week. He was able to throw a bullpen session on Saturday without incident.

Buchholz slots back in behind Jon Lester in the rotation. Previously, the Sox had slipped Felix Doubront between the two to help spread out the workload on the Boston bullpen. Farrell said Monday that Doubront's increased durability has made that less of a concern.

Buchholz, Doubront and Ryan Dempster are scheduled to start the showdown series in the Bronx. New York's rotation is set up for CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Hiroki Kuroda to pitch this weekend.

The Red Sox also expect both Shane Victorino and Will Middlebrooks to be activated from the disabled list as soon as eligible. Victorino, out with a left hamstring strain since May 21, could be back on June 5. Middlebrooks, on the DL with a low back strain, is eligible to return on June 8.

Farrell expects both to go out on rehab assignments prior to returning. Victorino's rehab could begin as soon as this weekend.

"Everything's trending in the right way as far as their recovery," the manager said.

Twitter: @TimBritton

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